The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Minister of petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, permission to file fresh evidence of her acquittal by a UK court in her suit to reclaim forfeited assets.
Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order on Wednesday after Diezani’s lawyer, Godwin Iyinbor, moved a motion on notice dated June 25. The application was not opposed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The UK’s Southwark Crown Court had, on June 17, discharged and acquitted the ex-minister of criminal bribery allegations brought against her in London. Diezani is now seeking to rely on that judgment as she pushes to recover assets previously forfeited to the Nigerian government.
She filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023 against the EFCC as the sole respondent. When the matter came up on Wednesday, both Iyinbor and EFCC’s counsel, Mofesomo Oyetibo, SAN, regularised their processes.
Iyinbor told the court his motion sought leave to file a further and supplementary affidavit to bring the UK court’s decision before the judge, and an order to deem the affidavit properly filed. Oyetibo confirmed service of the application.
The EFCC lawyer, however, said the move was meant to waste the court’s time. “They just want to bring to your lordship’s attention that the applicant has been exonerated in the UK,” Oyetibo stated. Justice Ekwo asked if the Commission intended to oppose the application, and Oyetibo said they were not objecting.
The judge subsequently granted the motion as prayed and adjourned the case until October 6 for hearing. He said the EFCC’s preliminary objection and the substantive suit would be taken together on that date.
